first on decorahnews.com: How an arrest made in Des Moines is affecting the Decorah Fire Department

An employee of the Iowa Fire Service Bureau was arrested in January in Des Moines, but the effects are being felt in Decorah and all across the state.

John McPhee was charged with felonious conduct in office and with tampering with records.  McPhee was in charge of scoring tests taken by firefighters and first responders in Iowa--including some from Decorah.  Prosecutors charge McPhee falsified certification scores to make it appear that the firefighters had passed their tests.

Over 500 fire departments have been affected--including the Decorah Fire Department.  State officials have notified the Decorah Fire Department that several firefighters who received certifications received those messages in error.

"It's frustrating," said fire department Public Affairs Officer Steve Vande Brink, who stresses that the Decorah firefighters did nothing wrong--they were told they had passed the test.

Now the Decorah Fire Department--like over 500 fire departments in Iowa and surrounding states--must figure out what to do about firefighters who were told they were certified, but really weren't.

Vande Brink says, unlike first responders, firefighters are not required to be certified for many tasks.  Complicating the situation is the accusation by prosecutors in Des Moines that McPhee's actions dated back to 2012.

One factor is weighing in favor of Decorah firefighters, however--a previously-scheduled refresher course is scheduled to be held in Decorah later this week.